CNN – Common treatments for acute pain include acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, and opioids. However, opioids carry the risk of addiction, among other issues. Here are several emerging non-opioid treatments.
Emerging treatments for acute pain include non-opioid analgesics, local anesthetics, and virtual reality.
Here are several breakthrough treatments that care teams use or may use in the future for acute pain.
1. Non-opioid analgesics
Suzetrigine (Journavx) is a new pain relief medication available for the treatment of moderate to severe pain.
It’s the first non-opioid pain relief medication that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved. The medication works by acting on sodium channels in your nerves, preventing pain signals from reaching the brain.
Unlike opioids, suzetrigine doesn’t cause sedation, slowed breathing, or addiction.
2. Injections of local anesthetic
Local anesthetics can be effective at relieving acute pain. Doctors sometimes use it as a continuous infusion by means of a catheter to prevent acute pain after surgery.
Single injections of a long-acting local anesthetic, like liposomal bupivacaine (Exparel), are a newer treatment option that can also be effective. This option may be preferable for many people over continuous injections that require a catheter because it enables the person to move around and stay active.
3. GLP-1 medications and related peptide molecules
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor antagonists (GLP-1s) are well known for their ability to help people lose weight and manage diabetes.
However, a 2024 study of mice suggests that GLP-1s may also reduce pain, perhaps in a similar way as eating high fat, high-sugar foods helps people cope with pain …
